Marianne Duddy-Burke

Boston, MA. June 21, 2019.  Leaders of DignityUSA, the world’s oldest organization of Catholics supporting equality and full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) Catholics in the church and society, say they are “in absolute solidarity” with Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School. The Indianapolis high school, run by the Jesuit order, has been ordered by Archbishop Charles Thompson not to call itself “Catholic” after refusing to terminate the employment of a teacher who married a same-sex partner.

24 July 2018. The GNRC (Global Network of Rainbow Catholics) is “deeply dismayed and disappointed” by the lack of response from officials overseeing the World Meeting of Families 2018 in Dublin, Ireland. The GNRC, representing 32 LGBTI Catholic groups from around the world, applied for an exhibit booth on 17th April 2018. Despite repeated requests for a decision about their application, and information that booth spaces are still available, GNRC has received no response.

July 23, 2018. DignityUSA, the organization of Catholics committed to justice, equality, and full inclusion for LGBTQI people in our church and society, joins many in the Church and justice communities, especially in the northwestern U.S., in mourning the death of retired Seattle Archbishop Raymond “Dutch” Hunthausen. The Archbishop’s allowing DignityUSA to hold a liturgy for 1,200 gay and lesbian Catholics and supporters in St.

May 21, 2018. Boston, MA. According to reports from Spain’s El Pais newspaper and the Associated Press, Pope Francis has reportedly told a gay male survivor of clerical sexual abuse that his sexual orientation comes from God. Juan Carlos Cruz said that in a private meeting about the Chilean sexual abuse scandal, Pope Francis said, “Look Juan Carlos, the pope loves you this way. God made you like this and he loves you.”

At this point, the Vatican is declining to confirm or deny the remarks.

Remarks from March 9, 2018 Teleconference (in order):

Kate McElwee, Executive Director, Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC)

Marianne Duddy-Burke, Executive Director, DignityUSA

Mary E. Hunt, Co-director, Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER)

Attempts to Deny Reality Hurt Families and Church, says DignityUSA

Boston, January 18, 2018. DignityUSA, the organization of Catholics committed to justice, equality and full inclusion of LGBTQI people in the Church and society, vehemently objected to the Trump Administration’s creation of a “Conscience and Religious Freedom Division” within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today. The office was established to support health care workers who refuse to treat certain kinds of people or perform certain procedures they believe violate their religious or moral beliefs.

“This is Why LGBTQI Catholics and Families Feel Unwelcome in Our Church.”

June 21, 2017. Boston, MA.  Leaders of DignityUSA, the organization of Catholics committed to justice, equality and full inclusion of LGBTQI Catholics in the Church and society, decry the “Decree Regarding Same-Sex ‘Marriage’ and Related Pastoral Issues” recently promulgated by Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois. The Decree outlines policies for all Catholic institutions in the Diocese when dealing with people in same-sex marriages.

May 5, 2017. Boston, MA. The Executive Order on Religious Freedom signed by President Donald Trump did not contain the explicitly anti-LGBTQI provisions that were part of leaked early drafts of the Order. However, leaders of DignityUSA, the organization of Catholics working for equality, justice and full inclusion of LGBTQI people in the Church and society, are warning that there are ominous signals that hard-won rights could soon be rolled back.

This letter to the editor from DignityUSA Executive Director Marianne Duddy-Burke appeared in the January 13, 2017 print issue of National Catholic Reporter. It was written in response to an article by Thomas Reese, SJ entitled  “Time to Compromise on Gay Rights and Religious Freedom.”

Well-intentioned but Problematic